APRIL 3-9, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 1 APRIL 3-9, 2023 · VOL. 43, NO. 37 YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY SINCE 1980 $2.50 · SBJ.NET Governor, legislature float fixes for child care crisis by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net The Missouri House of Representatives is considering tax credits designed to increase access to affordable child care as leaders in business and education signal that workforce needs make the situation a crisis. Rep. Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph, introduced the measure. House Bill 870 proposes three child care tax credits, first introduced in Gov. Mike Parson’s State of the State speech in January: • A tax credit for businesses that pay for a portion of employees’ child care costs. • A tax credit for employers that offer child care to employees either on site or through a contract with an off-site provider. • A tax credit for child care providers to make capital improvements to acquire or improve facilities and to provide a tax credit equal to the withholding tax that providers collect and remit to the state. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry supports the legislative package. “Almost 80% of business owners in Missouri say the cost and availability of child care is making it harder for them to recruit and retain employees,” said Kara Corches, the Missouri chamber’s vice president of governmental affairs, in a release from the chamber. A 2021 report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimated Missouri loses more than $1.3 billion annually through accessibility, quality and cost-related hurdles related to child care. Nationally, Bank of America data noted 7% fewer customers made child care payments at the end of 2022 as compared to the start of 2020, despite a 2% increase in U.S. jobs since that time, according to Labor Department data cited in a Wall Street BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Rountree shop The Local Bevy offers artists a space to showcase their work. PAGE 6 Interim president looks to lead Drury for next year by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net Following the resignation of President Tim Cloyd announced March 23, an interim leader has started at the Drury University campus. John Beuerlein, a retired financial analyst and philanthropist, began work March 27 in a role he said he expects to occupy well into 2024. A 1975 graduate of the university, Beuerlein is a nonvoting life trustee member at Drury after previously serving on its board of trustees 1991-2011. While it appeared the resignation of Cloyd, who had served as president since 2016, was sudden, Board Chair Rita Baron said that wasn’t the case. She and the board first heard from Cloyd of ongoing family health concerns a few months ago. Those undisclosed medical issues ultimately led to his departure, she added. “Dr. Cloyd graciously gave us advanced notice of his intention to resign as the president,” Baron said, adding his resignation letter was dated March 23. “It was a really hard decision toward the end to choose between Drury and his family. He was encouraged as family comes first and we all gave him that support to tend to his family.” The board did not ask for Cloyd’s resignation, she said. See PRESIDENT on page 19 See CRISIS on page 22 REBECCA GREEN Amber Boone, lead teacher for 2-yearolds at Lighthouse Child and Family Development Center at Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, works with a child as others race push toys behind her. Local committee also is working to problem-solve Search to replace Tim Cloyd will begin this summer Tim Cloyd led Drury for nearly seven years.
Join us for #CaretoWearGreen Day on April 6. Scan the QR code for more information. Learn more at caretolearn.org/birthday Care to Learn helps us kids, because when your family is in a rough situation and you don’t have enough, it helps you a lot. Supporting 15 Years Local Students Since 2008, we’ve made it our mission to meet basic health, hunger, and hygiene needs and help students achieve success in school. Along the way, we also want to help children celebrate the joy of being a kid, too. What started out as one fund and one partnership with Springfield Public Schools, has now expanded to 41+ school districts and communities all across the state of Missouri. Thank you for helping us continue to partner with schools so that children can continue to learn and grow.
APRIL 3-9, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 NEWS CONTENTS One of the education sector’s fallouts from the pandemic has a lot to do with graduate’s salary potential. page 9 Education by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net The word leisure – meaning free time – comes from the Latin “licere,” or to be allowed. Think license. Time away from work gives people license to use their time however they wish. Some high-performing professionals aim high in their off hours. Rikki Barton, founder of Onward Consulting LLC, aims for Mount Everest. “Hiking and climbing mountains, I feel like I’m challenging myself,” she said. “It helps keep me going.” Barton is training for a September climb to the base camp of Mount Everest. It will be a 10-day hike to an elevation 18,000 feet up the 29,000-foot peak. Meanwhile, she’ll be training, climbing 14,000-foot Pike’s Peak and using an oxygen deprivation mask. Barton said what she loves best about hiking and climbing are the views. “I’ve always loved nature,” she said. “I’m a person of faith, and that’s how I experience God.” Tying it back to her work, she said climbing helps her to understand striving – something key to her work in prevention of drug abuse and suicide. “With all of that, I definitely feel the strive to keep going because I care about people and know that I can make the world a better place for them,” she said. Leisure mindset Yating Liang, a professor of kinesiology at Missouri State University, does research in leisure motivation. She said whether someone is a staff member or a CEO, it’s important to balance work with leisure. While the common perception about leisure is that it is a chance to relax, Liang said that’s just one side of the coin – casual leisure. There is also such a thing as serious leisure, and those who pursue it dedicate time and intention to the effort. Liang said serious leisure is one way C-suiters and other executives can cope with stress from work. “All these people are very goal oriented. That’s kind of how they are and how they treat work,” she said. “They carry it over as part of how they pursue leisure. They are looking for some sort of outcome in their leisure as well.” For these people, leisure can be an important outlet for developing a different identity and perhaps finding a degree of satisfaction work may not offer, Liang said. “Developing that identity requires them to dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort to really crafting their skills,” she said. “It can help CEOs become better leaders in their jobs.” In a 2023 article in the Frontiers in Psychology journal, authors Seppo E. Iso-Ahola and Roy F. Baumeister note that leisure requires one main condition: freedom of choice. Leisure activities (or nonactivities) happen off the clock and are selected by the participant. Though the sky is the limit for how people can spend free time, the 2021 American Time Use Survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the civilian population averages 5.27 hours per day for leisure and sports, and more than half of that time – 2.86 hours – is spent watching TV. Those are the scant 1,924 hours per year that could be spent, say, learning Italian. The U.S. Foreign Service Institute reckons Open for Business A dance studio fills space in Chesterfield Village previously occupied by a Mexican restaurant. page 4 From the Ground Up Mercy is constructing a multispecialty clinic in western Springfield. page 17 Opinion Page Editorial Vice President Eric Olson shares takeaways on work ethic from Mike Rowe’s visit to College of the Ozarks. page 21 Serious about Leisure provided by RIKKI BARTON Rikki Barton says there’s no view like a mountaintop view. Here, she takes in the vista at Montana’s Glacier National Park. See LEISURE on page 24 Yating Liang: Skills crafted through serious leisure can make execs more proficient at work. For some execs, ‘R & R’ means ‘rabid and resolute’
APRIL 3-9, 2023 4 · SBJ.NET NEWS By Mike Cullinan, Reporter and Presley Puig, Editorial Intern New business, new location, new owner? Send your info to newbusiness@sbj.net Studio 3 Dance Academy After five years in veterinary medicine, Dr. Samantha Sellers launched Peaceful Crossings In-Home Pet Euthanasia on March 13. She said the service area for her two-employee, home-based business is generally within an hour’s drive of Springfield. Peaceful Crossings provides pet owners the opportunity to select in-home euthanasia rather than driving their pets to a veterinary clinic or hospital. Noting startup costs of $6,000, Sellers said the business offers euthanasia services for $300, not including a travel fee, as well as cremation or burial aftercare options. She said for those pet owners who need to discuss their pet’s health status, a quality-of-life telehealth consultation is offered for $75. The city of Springfield’s newest fire station began operations Feb. 28 at 1900 W. College St. The roughly $3.7 million, two-bay, single-story station for the Springfield Fire Department houses three shifts of four crew members and accommodates fire personnel needs, said Jennifer Swan, city architect for the Public Works Department. DeWitt & Associates Inc. was general contractor for the department’s 13th station, with Esterly Schneider & Associates Inc. and Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Boarman Kroos Vogel Group Inc. as project architects. City officials say the 6,367-squarefoot fire station is among four either completed or in progress around town this past year. Studio 3 Dance Academy LLC on Sept. 6 replaced a longtime restaurant in Chesterfield Village. Located at 2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Ste. A-100, Studio 3 is owned by Mackenzie Burghardt, attorney Dan Parmele and his wife, Diana. It fills 7,300 square feet in a building previously occupied by Primas Mexican Grill, which had operated since 2006. Dan Parmele said startup costs for the 13-employee business included the $1.6 million purchase of the building from former owner Montclair Capital LLC through DTown Real Estate LLC, as well as another $150,000 for renovations. The academy offers private and competitive dance classes with nine instructors, led by Burghardt, the studio’s artistic director. Diana Parmele, director of community relations, said the owners wanted to open an all-inclusive studio with a primary focus of having fun, while teaching respect and self-confidence. Individual class costs begin at $45 for 30 minutes and go up to $360 for six hours. ☎ 417-818-2339 S3Dance.com Peaceful Crossings In-Home Pet Euthanasia Springfield Fire Department Station No. 13 ☎ 417-830-3521 PeacefulCrossings.com ☎ 417-874-2300 SpringfieldMo.gov/fire OPEN FOR BUSINESS KATELYN EGGER Diana Parmele and Mackenzie Burghardt • Profitability forecasting & ROI potential • Estimated energy production. • Estimated savings in monthly energy cost. • Explore grants and funding opportunities Start Your Pathway to Success with a Feasibility Analysis VeriWatt can help protect your company from poor investment decisions by determining whether or not a solar project is technically and financially feasible. 855-733-5600 info@veriwatt.com 3202 W. Republic Rd. Springfield, MO 65807
APRIL 3-9, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 5 Send your company’s new hires, promotions, awards and achievements to newsmakers@sbj.net or click “Talk to SBJ” on our homepage. Please include job titles and relevant career and educational experiences. We’ll publish high-resolution color photos attached as space permits. LET US KNOW by Eric Olson · eolson@sbj.net Banking & Finance Greg DeLong and Clark Morris, financial advisers in Morgan Stanley’s Springfield Wealth Management office, were named to Forbes’ 2023 list of America’s Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams. Guaranty Bank Chief Operating Officer Amy Kiefer added to her role the position of executive vice president of deposit operations with parent company QCR Holdings Inc. She oversees products and operations associated with deposits and electronic banking and helps drive the strategic vision for QCRH’s bank support operations. Kiefer has a 35-year banking career and in 2008 was a founding staff member of Springfield First Community Bank, which merged with Guaranty Bank. Guaranty Bank made four promotions: Alesia Carter to vice president and branch banking group manager, Susan Johanson and Summer Simpson to assistant vice presidents and branch banking managers, and Kathy Qu to private banking officer. With 10 years of banking experience, Carter leads the west Springfield group of branches. Johanson and Simpson each has 15 years of banking experience. Qu, who joined Guaranty in 2021, has five years of banking experience and holds an MBA from Missouri State University. Additionally, Zilian Falig moved to a private banking specialist from an assistant branch manager for Guaranty Bank. She has five years of retail banking experience. New York Life added Will Thomas and Kameron Perrodin as agents and Andrew Goodall as a financial services professional. Thomas previously worked as a high school teacher, Perrodin as a construction sales representative and Goodall as a higher education administrator. Old Missouri Bank promoted Rebeccah Hicks and Brodie Wingert to loan officers. Each has three years of banking experience and were previously loan officer trainees. Hicks started with OMB in 2021 and holds a bachelor’s in business from MSU. Wingert joined OMB in 2022 and holds a bachelor’s in business administration and management from Evangel University. Law Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci founding partner Roger Johnson was named to the 2023 Power List of 30 health care attorneys by Missouri Lawyers Media. He represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice, birth injuries, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and wrongful death cases. Johnson holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas. Nonprofit Good Samaritan Boys Ranch received a $230,000 grant from the Children’s Trust Fund. The money will go toward facility updates for the ranch’s 24/7 therapeutic living environment for youth residents. NAMI Southwest Missouri Inc. named Taylor Wilson as director of marketing and development. She’s responsible for fundraising, marketing, event planning and raising awareness of the organization’s mental illness services. Ozarks Literacy Council hired Sarah Derr as coordinator for the reading tutoring program. She previously worked in programming for the Council of Churches of the Ozarks. Technology Drury University’s Cyber Defense Club won the Missouri state title at the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition – defeating 10-time champion Southeast Missouri State University. Drury’s team now advances to the regional competition. NEWSMAKERS Send announcements to newsmakers@sbj.net Thomas Hicks Johnson Derr Wingert Goodall Perrodin Kiefer Carter Falig Qu NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH childadvocacycenter.org April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and we are calling on you to help us shine a light on child abuse; because if we don’t talk about it, we can’t x it. Visit us online for a checklist of things you can do to make it clear that child abuse and neglect have no place in our community. Every 11 seconds a child is reported abused or neglected in the United States. 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before they are 18. For every incident of child abuse reported, it’s estimated that two incidents go unreported. NEED HELP? Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline: 800.392-3738 If We Can’t Talk About It, We Can’t Fix It
APRIL 3-9, 2023 6 · SBJ.NET NEWS by Presley Puig · Editorial Intern With a creative eye and a passion for supporting art, Andrea Petersburg opened The Local Bevy LLC after seeing how COVID negatively affected local artists and their ability to sell and promote their works. Her original idea was for a store that sold only local art, but Petersburg says her vision has evolved into selling pieces from artists in surrounding areas and states. “There’s artists in other towns doing different things,” she says. “I like to bring some of that here too.” Petersburg says roughly 95% of the products at The Local Bevy are made in Springfield, but all her inventory is handmade. “Maybe I’m supporting an artist in Tulsa, St. Louis or Kansas City, but I try to stay somewhat local,” Petersburg says. Petersburg, who is also an artist, started off making macrame and selling her work at art shows. To open her business, she says she immediately started calling friends in the art world to help find and make products to be sold. “I wanted to hit all the major mediums,” says Petersburg. “I wanted, pottery, prints, photography, just get a wide variety.” Today, 30 Springfield artists sell their work out of her shop in the Rountree neighborhood. Her products include pottery, jewelry and stationery, just to name a few. Products are arranged all over the store in fun displays and as eye-catching decor. “Some of these items are one of a-kind, unique; these artists aren’t going to pump out 10, much less two. The pace is different than traditional retail,” she says. She says she never had much of a marketing budget. Starting out, she relied heavily on word-of-mouth and social media. As the only employee, Petersburg says she wears lots of hats: “I’m the social media manager, photographer, customer service, cheerleader and hype girl.” Having no prior history in retail, she says she is learning from others and watching how similar businesses operate. Declining to disclose revenue, Petersburg says her mission for the business is to support local artists and give them a platform to sell. Petersburg says her busy season is around the holidays, primarily Christmas. She says many customers shop at the store for gifts. “I have lots of regulars and it’s truly been a blessing,” she says. “People really do just show up, and it’s so heartwarming for me that people come back all the time.” Artists can sell their goods at The Local Bevy in three ways, Petersburg says. The first way is renting space in the store for a set monthly price, along with 15% of sales going back to the store. The second way is a larger commission of 30% to the store in lieu of rent, and items are placed around the store and not in a dedicated place. The third way, catered to artists not local to Springfield, is for Petersburg to buy art pieces at a wholesale price. With the store set up like a gallery, she says she wants to be able to support artists at any part of their career, whether they are just starting out and want to sell a few items without paying a rental fee or an established artist with many products to fill a rented space. Local artist Jordan Ryan has sold retail goods under Pickwick Papery & Gifts at The Local Bevy for a little over a year. Focusing on paper goods, such as greeting cards, puzzles and planners, Ryan says The Local Bevy has been a great way for her to gauge the market for what’s popular without starting her own brick and mortar. “Andrea has made such a great space for local makers, and I love having a presence there,” says Ryan. A wall under the checkout counter highlights clay and resin earrings ranging $5-$15 apiece, and Petersburg says they’re popular sellers. Another area near that counter features yarn wall hangings, coasters and keychains made by Gathering Knots, owned by Denise Shaw. Shaw says she met Petersburg through Instagram and loved how she showcased local artists’ handmade products. “I knew when I was ready to sell my macrame pieces, The Local Bevy was the first place I would contact,” Shaw says. Shaw is a newer consigner and started selling with The Local Bevy in October. Most of her pieces are made to hang in homes or cars and range $30-$40 for wall hangings and $6 for keychains. “My vision has always been that I wanted to offer a little bit of everything, and I think it’s fun,” says Petersburg. “I sell what I want to buy.” • BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Getting Crafty HEATHER MOSLEY The Local Bevy Owner Andrea Petersburg says roughly 95% of the pieces sold in her Rountree shop are made by Springfield artisans. MORE PHOTOS AT SBJ.NET The Local Bevy LLC Owner: Andrea Petersburg Founded: 2020 Address: 617 S. Pickwick Ave. Phone: 417-430-1859 Web: Facebook.com/TheLocalBevy Email: TheLocalBevy@gmail.com Services/Products: Handmade art and goods Employees: 1 Roughly 30 Springfield artists sell their pieces at The Local Bevy. The Local Bevy is dedicated to supporting area artists with opportunities to sell their works
APRIL 3-9, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 7 NEWS Less Paperwork. More Peoplework. Manage your workforce from onboarding to payroll and beyond so you can spend your time on the peoplework, not the paperwork. apluspayroll.com by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net By this time next year, the Stone County Health Department expects to be in a new headquarters larger than the combined space of its two current facilities. The department broke ground March 2 on a $3 million project in Reeds Spring that will replace the Branson West location that has been its home in the southern part of the county for the last five years. The building under construction at 701 Old Wilderness Road is near the intersection of highways 13 and 76 and will allow for expanded services throughout the county, said Pam Burnett, Health Department administrator. Neosho-based Construction Services Group is general contractor for the 10,000-square-foot project designed by H Design Group LLC. A spring 2024 opening is planned, Burnett said. The Health Department has owned 23 acres in central Stone County since 2016 with the intent of launching the project, she said. “It’s been a little nerve-wracking, I’m not going to lie,” she said, noting conversations about building a new headquarters started over a decade ago. “Knowing that something like this is going to be used for years to come, you want to make sure that everything is right and that the plans are good.” Burnett said the project did not require a tax increase and is being funded out of the department’s budget. Because the agency is a political subdivision, it is separate from Stone County governance. However, she said the Stone County Commission supports the project, which also was given approval by the department’s board of trustees. While the department currently operates in 3,000 square feet of rented space in Branson West, it first opened a satellite office roughly 20 years ago in the southern portion of the county to accommodate residents near Table Rock Lake, Burnett said. Since 1977, the health agency Stone County Health Department begins work on $3M HQ provided by H DESIGN GROUP LLC HEALTH PLAN A 10,000-square-foot headquarters for the Stone County Health Department is slated to open next year in Reeds Spring. Officials expect new Reeds Spring facility to open by spring 2024 See HEALTH on page 26 Pam Burnett: Galena location will remain operating with limited hours beginning next year.
APRIL 3-9, 2023 8 · SBJ.NET NEWS by Geoff Pickle · gpickle@sbj.net The city of Springfield officially owns Hammons Field. The city received approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Kansas and then closed on the purchase March 27, according to a news release. The deal required going before a judge for approval, as the John Q. Hammons Charitable Trust and the city have been involved in an ongoing bankruptcy proceeding that involves a development agreement with the city, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. The $16 million deal comprises $6.5 million for the ballpark, $5.5 million for the two parking lots and $4 million in repairs to the park. Atrium Holding Co. and JD Holdings sold the parking lots. In 2018, JD Holdings took control of late hotelier John Q. Hammons’ assets through bankruptcy proceedings for roughly $1 billion, according to past reporting. Hammons, who died in 2013 at age 94, was the developer behind the $32 million Hammons Field downtown at 955 E. Trafficway St. On Feb. 14, Springfield City Council approved the purchase of Hammons Field at a special meeting after the deal was announced at the beginning of the month. The stadium has been home to the Springfield Cardinals, the Minor League Baseball Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, since 2004. The Major League Baseball team has agreed to keep the Springfield Cardinals in the Queen City through 2038 in the deal with the city, according to City closes on purchase of Hammons Field See PURCHASE on page 27 Ken McClure: Springfield wants to keep Cardinals for generations. SBJ FILE Hammons Field, now owned by the city of Springfield, has been home to the Springfield Cardinals since 2004. WWW.ESTERLYSCHNEIDER.COM CELEBRATING OUR EDUCATION PARTNER — OZARK SCHOOL DISTRICT OZARK INNOVATION CENTER OZARK MIDDLE SCHOOL OZARK TIGER PAW EARLY CHILDHOOD Leaders change at Hiland Dairy by SBJ Staff · sbj@sbj.net Springfield-based Hiland Dairy Foods Co. LLC went through a leadership transition. Rick Beaman is succeeding longtime President Gary Aggus, who announced his retirement from the company in February, according to a news release. With the change, Shawn Pinon is being promoted to senior vice president to succeed Beaman. The promotions are effective April 1. “I am proud of Hiland’s heritage and successes. Shawn and I are committed to growing that legacy by continuing to invest in our products, plants and people,” Beaman said in the release. Beaman has been a Hiland Dairy employee since 2012. Pinon, who most recently led the integration of the recently acquired Borden Texas Dairies into the Hiland organization, joined the company in 2017. Hiland Dairy is a farmer-owned dairy food company that employs almost 4,000 people across nine states. • Rick Beaman succeeds Gary Aggus as company president.
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 9 APRIL 3-9, 2023 by Nicole Chilton · Contributing Writer Three years ago, students were not meeting in school classrooms. Instead, their spring break continued while a global pandemic raged on, and they either stopped going to school altogether or experienced a new normal in a virtual classroom. Now, studies are emerging showing the impact that this gap in traditional learning has had on students nationwide and what that means for the future labor market. Nationally, math and reading skills decreased from 2019 for fourth graders and eighth graders. For example, 25% of fourth grade students were below basic math skills, a difference of six percentage points from 2019, according to the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress. In Missouri, fourth and eighth grade students’ performance in reading and math slipped in 2022 compared to 2019, according to the NAEP. For example, 61% of eighth graders were performing at or above basic levels in math in 2022, nine percentage points lower than in 2019. Fourth graders saw a similar decrease, with 72% of students performing with basic or above math skills. Basic and above reading skills dropped seven percentage points for eighth graders and four percentage points for fourth graders. “The results serve as another indicator that high-quality instruction matters,” said Missouri Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven in an October 2022 news release. “It’s clear that the pandemic had an impact on student learning and that there is work to do. We must use this information, alongside state and local metrics, to continue accelerating post-pandemic learning with improved systems and processes to meet the needs of each student.” Springfield Public Schools has felt the weight of these scores, but Dana Hubbard, education director for Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies, feels optimistic. “Academics play a large part in student success,” Hubbard said, “but with GO CAPS, we are going to help students find a niche that they can connect with, so by the time they leave high school, they have a foothold on a career they want to go into.” GO CAPS, established by SPS in 2015, is a profession-based learning curriculum for juniors and seniors in area school districts. The program, which has spots for 150 students each year, helps bridge the gap between academics and professional readiness for those interested in pursuing a career right out of high school, Hubbard said. SPS, the largest school district in the state, has over 23,500 students in grades K-12. Currently, there is no plan to increase seat offerings for GO CAPS. “It’s a chance to get out of the classroom and solve real-world problems in a real-world setting alongside industry professionals,” Hubbard said. Currently, GO CAPS has curricula focused on medical/health care, engineering and manufacturing, and business and entrepreneurship. Students spend half of their school day focused on their area of interest, working directly with local businesses and hospitals. “We are very connected with our chamber of commerce to build a talent pipeline for our community,” Hubbard said. Hubbard knows that students have expectations of what a high-paying job with a dream-worthy lifestyle looks like and that they think they need to leave the area to obtain that. “We are trying to get students and parents to see what opportunities exist in the area.” Don Harkey, CEO of People Centric Consulting Group LLC, sees firsthand the need that area businesses have for staffing, particularly post-pandemic. “Employers are incredibly short-handed and feeling the labor shortage and feeling it right now,” he said. “They need people to come in and hit the ground running and be ready to work.” But because of the pandemic’s impact on students’ learning and grades, a recent study from Stanford University’s Hoover Education Success Initiative, written by Eric A. Hanushek, predicts it will have a negative economic impact on students’ lifelong salaries. “Much of the discussion of the educational impact of the pandemic has been phrased in terms such as test score points or standard deviations that have little meaning to most people,” the study said. “Without action, not only will individuals in the COVID cohort of students suffer longterm income losses, but also the individual states will see shrunken economic activity.” Using the NAEP report card, Hanushek concluded that looking abstractly at the data, individual students are “not necessarily worse off” but have simply achieved less than EDUCATION A Leg Up See HURDLES on page 15 Don Harkey: Winning businesses will create great places to work, not blame the next generation. HEATHER MOSLEY Students aim to get career-ready following the pandemic’s hurdles 6% Estimated loss in lifetime income for Missouri students as a result of pandemic-era learning gaps
10 · SBJ.NET APRIL 3-9, 2023 FOCUS EDUCATION The percentage of students that come through community colleges and graduate nationally is not extremely high. At OTC, about 31% graduate within three years and 46% complete their degrees, which includes transferring credits. What are the barriers for students as it relates to that graduation rate? We spend a lot of time digging into that question. One of the things we looked at was something that we call waterfall data. Of 100 students that say they’re interested in coming to OTC, a certain percentage of them don’t persist through the orientation process. About 27% of them withdraw due to some kind of financial issue, so they never make it to the first day of classes. What we found in looking at several years’ worth of data is of students that apply, only about 50% of them make it to the first day [of classes]. After that, we lose fewer students, but still we have students that transfer or decide college isn’t for them. Often that has to do with three areas that we’ve identified. We focus on long-term planning, helping students figure out: Why do you want to go to college? What’s your long-term goal? What degree program aligns with that career path? The second is financial aid. That’s a major barrier. Sometimes, we say, life happens, like their car breaks down or their child care falls through, and they have these sudden, unexpected expenses that then means something has to give. The third is academic planning. They don’t have a clear course to get to where they want to go. They want to be a lawyer, but they think two years in community college might help them get there. It will, but we need to do some planning beyond that. We focus on those three areas and then referring students to resources as needed. OTC invested in a position we call navigators that helps students with those three plans: academic, financial and long-term planning. If 50% of students aren’t making it to that first day of classes that apply, what is the goal for that and the graduation rate? Much higher. Initially we conceptualized this as all one role, but we ended up creating an admissions team. When students are in that application process, they’re assigned an admissions counselor who walks them through that process. Their goal is to lose fewer students through our application process and maybe retain 70% or 80%. Our ultimate goal is to increase fall-to-fall retention and graduation. Over the last three years we’ve been increasing this pilot project up to full implementation, we’ve seen increases in fall-to-fall persistence, measurable amounts. So, 4% to 6% depending on the semester. You also added community resource specialists to address health, hunger and hygiene needs of students. How have you been able to help students? That seems nontraditional for a college. It is. It’s kind of a social worker role. OTC has counselors, but this is more boots on the ground. When life happens and a student has a need, our navigators can refer students to the community resource specialists, and their job is twofold: to develop partnerships in the community with different organizations that provide services and connect our students to those services. OTC is a fine institution, but we can’t do everything. We can’t put new tires on your car or help you with legal issues or provide child care. But we do have resources and partners in the community that can help with those things. [We helped] more than 600 [students] in the fall semester. OTC data shows 63% of students receive scholarships or grants. In fall, OTC had 111 students as part of the state’s Fast Track program. How is that removing barriers for students to stay in school, and what are other financial aid programs helping students? If you’ve graduated from high school, you’ve been out a couple of years and you don’t have a credential, then you can come back to school. It works similar to the Pell [Grant] providing a funding source. We have a navigator to walk with them through filling out the (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). It’s daunting, especially for those first-time students. That’s kind of the key that unlocks multiple types of aid. You need a FAFSA on file to receive A+, for instance. That might be the difference between I can go to college and no, I can’t. What are the next barriers that you will try to address through these programs? The most recent OTC Cares report said that one in nine of our students is legally considered homeless, so they might be living with a friend, sleeping on the couch. They don’t have the stability that tends to lead to success in college. I don’t know if we’re going to get away from that unless there’s massive social change, but providing students with those connections through the community resource specialists can help them persist. That’s an area that we can expand. We do have three community resource specialists in the whole system and should we hire more; they would be utilized. steve fouse College Director of Student Success, Ozarks Technical Community College A CONVERSATION WITH ... HEATHER MOSLEY Excerpts from an interview by Executive Editor Christine Temple, ctemple@sbj.net 417-831-1700 • pcnetinc.com Managed IT Solutions That Propel Your Business Forward CONTACT US TODAY
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 11 APRIL 3-9, 2023 FOCUS EDUCATION Like never before, student demand and technology are drivers in higher education. With more people turning to online learning to acquire new skills, keep up with industry trends and complete their degrees, it’s no surprise the industry is constantly evolving. It’s this constant evolution that is keeping higher education institutions on their toes. And those who fail to rise to the occasion do so at great risk. I’ve spent the majority of my career in higher education serving the nontraditional or working adult student. These students, 25 years and older, represent 35% of enrollment in higher education in 2021, according to the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics. With online courses and programs, these students have the world at their fingertips. In the online space, there are no geographic barriers. Students can learn from anywhere in the world, on their own schedule and at their own pace, allowing them to balance their education with work, family and other commitments. Those who choose on-demand, self-paced options can start a class today and complete coursework and assignments on their own time, rather than adhering to a strict schedule. They also have the opportunity to customize their learning experience to their individual needs and preferences and to learn in ways that suit their personal learning styles. Even with busy lives, these students appreciate the community they find within the online environment. Today, these students are telling us what they expect from their higher education experience. And we need to deliver. Thankfully, technology continues to advance, making educational endeavors more accessible, flexible and engaging. Students can access course content on virtually any device, at any time and from anywhere. And the innovations in this space seem to be endless. Learning management systems not only provide an incubator for learning and engagement between faculty and staff but now help universities track student progress and identify at-risk students early, allowing us to intervene in their situations before it’s too late. From virtual reality simulations to gamification, online learning is using technology to make education more engaging, interactive and effective. These technologies motivate learners, offering immersive learning experiences that simulate real-world scenarios, allowing students to apply their knowledge in a practical setting. With the use of advanced technology and a wide range of multimedia resources, online learning platforms can now provide individualized learning paths and content recommendations based on a student’s unique learning style, progress and goals. This not only improves the learning experience but also increases student retention. But students aren’t just learning course content; they’re developing technical skills, such as navigating learning management systems, collaborating in virtual environments and using online research tools. They’re learning to network, think critically and problem-solve. These skills are becoming increasingly important in the modern workplace, making online education a valuable way to develop skills that can enhance employability. Higher education, specifically online education, seems to be changing at lightning speed. But we need to remember that education has always evolved, and those who dared to enter new territory often experienced great reward. The bottom line is that our higher education institutions cannot thrive in the future by doing what we’ve always done in the past. The modern learner is looking for an experience that fits well into their busy schedule, adds value to their life and profession, and engages them in ways that enhance their learning. If we don’t pay attention to our students’ needs and use the tools that are being created, we risk missing out on opportunities to serve this growing population, be innovative in our delivery, and create products and services that will meet the new demands placed on the industry. These students have been the greatest joy of my professional career. I believe they’re worth the risk. Lisa Tyson is the dean of Evangel University’s College of Online Learning. She can be reached at tysonl@evangel.edu. INDUSTRY INSIGHT Lisa Tyson Student demand, technology changing higher ed BECOME THE EXPERT Drury University’s College of Graduate Studies offers master’s degrees in both online and seated formats to accommodate even the busiest professional. + Master in Business Administration + Master of Arts in Communication + Master in Education + Master in Integrative Leadership + Master of Nonprofit and Civic Leadership + Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies + Master in Public Service and Safety Leadership COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES drury.edu/graduate Skills learned through online education are increasingly important in the modern workplace and can enhance employability. Classroom Innovation
12 · SBJ.NET APRIL 3-9, 2023 FOCUS EDUCATION Prepare for it at Evangel University. FULLY ONLINE Advance your career: • Flexible online degrees • Accessible and affordable • Associates to doctoral level • Certificates for professional development • Multiple start dates evangel.edu/online 417.268.1000 What 4-day school week says of state’s public education system The U.S. Department of Labor reported in February that the nation’s unemployment level is at a 54-year low. Most people willing to work can find a job, and competition for these workers is fierce. Missouri schools employ about 100,000 certified staff members, including teachers, administrators, counselors, librarians and nurses. If you add noncertified school employees, the number of school district employees reaches nearly 200,000. This pool of excellent workers has not gone unnoticed by other industries, and school leaders struggle to retain them. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reports that in the 2021-22 school year, out of 71,587 full-time teaching positions in Missouri, 5% or 3,579, were filled by “inappropriately certified” teachers or were left vacant. Historically, Missouri schools have relied on a veteran teacher corps with relatively few teachers leaving the field. It was common for many teachers in most school districts to teach for 30 years or more before retirement. The new generation of school employees replacing them, and the climate in which they work, is very different. DESE data show that only 46.5% of Missouri beginning teachers remain as a teacher after five years. Of Missouri’s eight bordering states, Missouri has the lowest average teacher starting salary, at $33,234. This salary issue is not unique in Missouri. The Economic Policy Institute calls the compensation issue the “teacher pay penalty.” Simply put, teachers are paid less than their nonteacher college-educated counterparts, and the situation is worsening over time. The politics of education has also played a role in causing many school employees to seek new careers outside of education. Missouri, traditionally, has taken steps to keep politics out of education and is considered to have strong local control with locally elected school boards given exceptional power. School board elections are nonpartisan and held in April to avoid the partisan tensions that often boil over in the August and November elections. Partisan appointments to the Missouri State Board of Education are limited. Unfortunately, schools and education are becoming a common focus of the culture wars. Many school employees look at the challenges of working in schools and have chosen to transition to careers that will pay more, provide more flexibility, and involve less stress and conflict. With these issues facing educators, how can schools compete for employees? Over the last eight years, my research agenda at Missouri State University has focused on the growing trend of schools transitioning to a four-day school week. A group of legislators in 2010, primarily from rural parts of the state, offered the four-day school week as legislation to allow local schools to be innovative in school operations. Schools, by going to a four-day week, had to maintain the same number of instructional hours, which is typically done by longer school days. While early adoption focused primarily on cutting costs, financial savings were typically minimal. Very slowly, the number of Missouri fourday week schools grew, not primarily for financial reasons but because schools found it an effective way to recruit and retain high-quality employees. Recently, the number of four-day week districts in Missouri has exploded. This school year, over 27% of Missouri public schools use the four-day week; it will exceed 30% next year. While nearly all the four-day school week districts in Missouri are small rural schools, this is beginning to change. The two largest four-day week districts in Missouri are Warren County and Marshfield – both have more than 3,000 students. Next year, the Independence School District, with over 14,000 students in suburban Kansas City, will implement the four-day week. Early reports from Independence show that job applications are up in the district by over 500% from previous years. None of the schools that have adopted the four-day school week has made the switch without considering how it will impact their kids or families. Of the 146 districts that have voted to transition to a four-day week, only one reversed the decision. Admittedly, the strategy is based on the gamble that by going to the four-day week, students will have higher-quality teachers in their school. Since instructional minutes are the same on a five-day or four-day week, teacher quality is an important variable that can drive learning. The four-day school week is not the problem; it is a symptom of a collection of problems. The key question is, why have we gotten to a point in Missouri education where it is necessary for schools to go to a four-day week to attract and retain high-quality teachers in our classrooms? Jon Turner is an associate professor of counseling, leadership and special education at Missouri State University. He can be reached at jonsturner@missouristate.edu. INDUSTRY INSIGHT Jon Turner Scheduling Strategy
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 13 APRIL 3-9, 2023 FOCUS EDUCATION Is your child at risk? 417-799-7474 perimeterspringfield.com Is your child at risk? 417-799-7474 perimeterspringfield.com Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays, for children ages 6-17. The K.I.S.S. principle. [keep it simple subscriber] Email subscriptions@sbj.net to get started today! Simplify your Subscription! If your company has two or more subscriptions, contact us today about our Managed Corporate Subscription program. AREA'S LARGEST HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS Rank Name Address Telephone • Website Email Local Spring 2023 Enrollment Percent Change from 2022 Local Employees Local Employees Tuition Per Credit Hour In-State Out-of-State Online Enrollment Spring 2023 Total Degrees Conferred 2022 Representative Programs Top Local Executive(s), Title(s) Institution's Accredidation Year Founded Locally 1 (1) MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY 901 S National Ave, Springfield 65897 417-836-5000 • MissouriState.edu info@missouristate.edu 18,098 (5.3%) 3,737 $267 (undergraduate); $333 (graduate) $572 (undergraduate); $665 (graduate) 3,716 4,990 Agriculture, animal science, biology, biomedical sciences, child & family development, communication, computer science, construction management Clif Smart, president HLC 1905 2 (2) OZARKS TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1001 E Chestnut Expwy, Springfield 65802 417-447-7500 • OTC.edu ask@otc.edu 9,162 (8.8%) 1 1,659 $122-$187 $219-$236 2,966 2,304 Nursing, welding, diesel technology, respiratory therapy, dental assisting, transfer degree programs Hal Higdon, chancellor HLC 1991 3 (3) EVANGEL UNIVERSITY 1111 N Glenstone Ave, Springfield 65802 417-865-2811 • Evangel.edu headlune@evangel.edu 2,182 8.4% 641 $700-$1,0502 Same 214 580 Allied health, biblical studies, biology, business management, music, psychology, education & graduate degrees in education, counseling Mike Rakes, president HLC, NASM, CSWE, ACBSP, ATS 1955 4 (4) DRURY UNIVERSITY 900 N Benton Ave, Springfield 65802 417-873-7879 • Drury.edu drury@drury.edu 1,946 (1.5%) 384 $1,130 day/$320 evening/ online 3 Same 668 502 Biology, business, architecture, pre-med, fine arts John Beuerlein, interim president HLC, AACSB, CAEP, NAAB, NASM 1873 5 (5) SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY 1600 University Ave, Bolivar 65613 800-526-5859 • SBUniv.edu admissions@sbuniv.edu 1,697 (12.3%) 406 $785 Same 818 794 Music, arts & letters, business & computer science, theology & Christian ministry, education & social sciences, science & mathematics, nursing Richard Melson, president HLC, CAATE, ACBSP, ABET, ACEN, CAPTE, CSWE, JRCERT, NASM, DESE, MSBN 1878 6 (6) COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS 1 Opportunity Ave, Point Lookout 65726 417-334-6411 • CofO.edu pr@cofo.edu 1,434 1.3% 361 $04 Same 0 351 Accounting, agriculture, arts, theology, biology, business administration, computer sciences, engineering, social services, education, chemistry, history Brad Johnson, president ACEND, NCACS, CCNE, MSBN 1906 7 COX COLLEGE 1423 N Jefferson Ave, Springfield 65802 417-269-3401 • CoxCollege.edu sonya.hayter@coxcollege.edu 792 (9.1%) 116 $430 Same 236 335 Nursing, radiography, nutrition diagnostics, occupational therapy, sonography Amy DeMelo, president HLC, ACEN, ACOTE, AHIMA, CCNE, ACEND, JRCERT, CAAHEP 1907 8 (7) COLUMBIA COLLEGESPRINGFIELD 3271 E Battlefield Road, Ste 250, Springfield 65804 417-881-4466 • CCIS.edu/Springfield springfield@ccis.edu 102 (25.5%) 9 $375 Same 102 2,200 Human resources, criminal justice, psychology, business administration, environmental science, American studies, history, computer information David Russell, president HLC 1998 Ranked by local spring enrollment. AACSB: AACSB:Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. ABET: ABET:Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. ACBSP: ACBSP:Association of Collegiate Business Schools & Programs. ACEN: ACEN: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. ACEND: ACEND:Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. ACOTE: ACOTE:Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. AHIMA: American Health Information Management Association. ATS: Association of Theological Schools. CAAHEP: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. CAATE: CAATE:Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. CAEP: CAEP:Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. CAPTE: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. CCNE: CCNE:Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. CSWE: CSWE:Council on Social Work Education. DESE: DESE:Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. HLC: Higher Learning Commission. JRCERT: JRCERT:Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. MSBN: MSBN:Missouri State Board of Nursing. NAAB: NAAB:National Architectural Accrediting Board. NASM: NASM:National Association of Schools of Music. NCACS: NCACS: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Local is defined as Springfield and its 50-mile radius. 1 2021 spring enrollment numbers were published last year, instead of 2022 enrollment. Local spring enrollment 2022 was 10,044; 2021 was 10,278. 2 Estimated range for undergraduate classes. Evangel charges $12,583 per semester for full time undergraduate students. Other student rates vary for individuals enrolled as James River College, online only, graduate or as seminary students. 3 Estimated range. Drury charges $16,250 per semester for full-time students. Part-time students pay $1,094 per hour. Tuition over 17 credit hours per semester is $675 per hour. 4Covered by mandatory work programs, grants and scholarships. Researched by Karen Bliss Karen Bliss © Copyright 2023 SBJ. All rights reserved. This material may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This material may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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